<br><font size=3 face="Arial">For some time now, I have been mulling over
the idea of pairing invasive eradications with medicinal applications!
</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Everyone from the general public to the government
is into invasives eradication and there are a variety of ways to "celebrate"
these eradications - like eating them. Take Japanese Knotweed
(<i>Polygonum cuspidatum</i>), for example. According to Annette
Paluh, Environmental Protection Specialist, Field Operations-Environemental
Cleanup Program (Pittsburgh, PA.), a local group has been holding
a Japanese Knotweed Festival for the past two years. The festival
includes information on knotweed research, cooking demonstrations
and hikes to harvest your very own samples (1).</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Another way to handle invasives, is to process
them into medicines! There are many examples of invasive species
with medicinal potential - garlic mustard (<i>Alliora petiolata</i>)
and musk thistle (<i>Carduus nutans </i>L.), for instance. A
recent posting to the Alien Plant Working Group listserve (2) about an
invasive seaweed (3) also appears to have health applications (4). </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">With a focus on non-native invasives, you
may think that this project would have no relation to our goal of sustainable
use and conservation of native medicinal plants. But, it does: Many
of the non-natives are invading prime habitat for our native medicinals.
It seems logical, but there are issues to be ironed out. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">MY QUESTION IS: Do you have experience with
or more information about efforts in the U.S. or issues that might be informative
for an invasive medicinal plant pull? If yes, please e-mail me directly
at: <Patricia_DeAngelis@fws.gov>. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Thank you! </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">-Patricia </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal
Plant Working Group</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">US Fish & Wildlife Service</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Arlington, VA 22203</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">703-358-1708 x1753</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">FAX: 703-358-2276</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Working for the conservation and sustainable
use of our green natural resources.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">____________________________________________________________________________</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">(1)</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b>Sunday, April 23, 2006 - Japanese
Knot Weed Feast!</b></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">That's right, we're cooking heaping helpings
of this rhubarb and buckwheat relative. In partnership with the Botanical
Society of Western PA, we'll serve up all sorts of tasty recipes using
this overly abundant wild edible plant, as well as other locally abundant
flora. The day's menu includes Veggie-Knot Soup, Steamed Knotweed Sesame,
Apple-Knotweed Pie, as well as other dishes from our skilled trip leaders
and volunteers. As part of the presentation, you’ll learn some helpful
techniques for harvesting and preparing wild edibles. There will also be
short hikes to see and harvest samples of Japanese knotweed in its wild
habitat, while learning about the plant and why it has spread so dramatically
since coming to this country.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b>Location:</b> Highland Park </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b>Time:</b> 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b>Cost:</b> $10.00 member/$12.00 non-member</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b>Organization:</b> Venture Outdoors </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">http://www.wpfi.org/activityresults.asp?month=4/1/2006&category=&past=&venonly=checkbox&interest=&week=&curpage=2</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">_______________________________________________</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">(2)</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">For original APWG posting, see: http://cpanel.wispme.com/pipermail/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org/2006-March/000584.html</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">______________________________________________</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">(3)</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b>Professor Finishes Maine Bay Seaweed
Study ((</b>Tue Feb 28, 8:39 PM ET<b>))</b></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">DURHAM, N.H. - A University of New
Hampshire plant biology professor has </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">documented an abundance of invasive species
of seaweed in Maine's Casco </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Bay that appear to be changing the ecosystem.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">See the link for the rest of the article:
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=9974</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">____________________________________________________________________________</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">(4)</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b>Interesting facts about the green algae,
<i>Codium fragile</i>, mentioned in the article above: </b></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b>>>"These seaweed species would
be suitable source of PUFA for inclusion in the formulation of highly unsaturated
diets. "</b></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Ustun, G., A. Ersoy, S. Yucel, and
Z. Ulger. 2005. Fatty acid compositions of green seaweeds
(<i>Codium fragile </i>and <i>Ulva lactuca </i>) from the Marmara
Sea. 2005 IFT Anual Meeting. New Orleans, Louisiana. <http://ift.confex.com/ift/2005/techprogram/paper_30461.htm></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b>>>This is an interesting genus because
the cells of Codium are ‘coenocytic’, meaning that they lack cross-walls
in their cells. As a result, a Codium fragile individual measuring
up to 25cm in length can be composed of a single multinucleate cell!
</b>Further, a subspecies called Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides
is a highly successful invasive species recently introduced on the
east coast of Canada (Garbary et al. 1997). Full article at: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/~brian/florae/Seaweeds_in_British_Columbia_by_Colin_Bates.pdf
</font>
<br>
<br>